Perhaps the best way of understanding the idea of social justice is to look at the kind of poverty-fighting groups that the Centre for Social Justice awarded last year. David Cameron is pictured presenting an award to the Shannon Trust. The Shannon Trust recruits literate prisoners to mentor illiterate fellow prisoners in one-to-one teaching. It is a highly effective programme that tackles one of the main things that stops offenders prospering when they leave prison. Other groups awarded including a Bristol-based charity that helps build healthy marriages and a homelessness charity that helps people develop the skills they need to become independent of the state. The CSJ Awards programme is non-partisan and Labour’s Salford Council received an award last year. Members of the judging panel include Frank Field MP and Theresa May MP.

The CSJ has now launched its 2006 Awards Programme and is looking for good poverty-fighting groups to apply for a share of a £25,000 prize fund. If you know of a worthy organisation please tell them about the CSJ Awards by directing them to this pdf. Applications must be received by 12th April.